Repair and test stand for gas service regulators



C. D. PETERSON REPAIR AND TEST STAND FOR GAS SERVICE REGULATORS Aug. 21, 1951 2 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1948 1951 c. D. PETERSON 2,565,086

REPAIR AND TEST STAND FOR GAS SERVICE REGULATORS Filed June 15, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 21; 1951 REPAIR AND TEST STAND FOR GAS SERVICE REGULATQRS Charles D. Peterson, Dallas, Tex., assignorto Universal Controls Corporation, Dallas, Tex, a corpcration of Texas Application June 15. 194s..sc.r ia1;No.3s,0a4

. 5 Claims.

This invention relates to repair and test stands for gas service regulators, and particularly to a stand providing a convenient supporting vise and testing attachment for the mounting and testing of gas service regulators and for positioning them firmly for servicing, cleaning and repairing.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a noveland improvedrepair and test stand for gas service regulators.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to provide a stand of the type described, .including a vertical post supporting upper and lower clamping heads and power means for moving one of the heads for engaging the opposed faces of the valve housing of a gas service regulator for mounting the same and connecting it to fluid testing lines.

An important object of the invention comprises the arrangement of flexible and adjustable mounting means for the upper test head to compensate for variations in size ,of devices to be tested, together with power operation of the lower head to provide maximum. clamping effort, insuring against leakage or unwarranted movement.

An important feature ofthe invention resides in extending test pipes laterally from the clamping heads and projecting them through elongated slots in the mounting frame to permit their vertical movement while limiting lateral or rotary movement.

,A further important feature of the invention resides in the use of a locking toggle and fluid pressure operating means :for the same, for manipulating the movable test head.

Other and further objects and features of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon a consideration of the accompanying drawings and following specification, wherein is disclosed a single exemplary embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that such modifications and improvements may be made therein as fall within the scope of the appended claims Without departing fir-0m the spirit of the invention.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of arepair and test stand for gas service regulators constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the arrangement and disposition of the parts prior to the application of a gas service regulator between the test heads thereof;

Fig.3 is a vertical fore and -af t section taken centrally through the test device in the axes of the test heads;

Fig. 3 is a partial horizontal section taken on the axis of the power element of Fig. 2 illustrating the toggle thrust mechanism and limit stop; and

Fig. l is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, showing the toggle i-n retracted or broken position. Gas service regulators are used in many parts of the country on each individual service line leading to a house or other consumer property to reduce the pressure from a substantial value in pounds per square inch in the mains to a value of ounces per square inch in the users service pipe. This permits more economical delivery of gas at high pressure in smaller mains and yet insures the consumer the desired low pressure for the proper operation of his equipment.

Such gas service regulators are customarily built up about a valve housing in the nature of a pipe fitting, having parallel faces at the ends thereof which are drilled and threaded to receive the service pipe sections. Mounted on the valve housing is a large diaphragm chamber containing the flexible diaphragm subjected on one side to the low outlet pressure of the regulator valve for operating the valve mechanism. Such gas service regulators are more or less standardized and must 'be replaced from time to time to permit the repair, rebuilding and testing of the same to insure continuous accurate service. The devices must be dismantled, cleaned and parts replaced where necessary. After re-assemb'ly it is desired to test the regulators for leakage, accuracy of regulation, lockup service etc., and to adjust them if nec ssary.

Prior to the present invention such repair and servicing was effected while the valve housing was held in a vise and thereafter testing effected by screwing sections of Pipe into the ends of the valve housing and connecting them by hoses to suitable testing equipment and sources of suitable fluid under pressure. This was a time consumin operation, a great portion of which is eliminated by sin the present invention. which not only serves as a mounting r supp device for use during service operations but automat ically connects testing and pressure lines to the two ends of the valve. permittin testing nd adjusting after cleaning, repairing and rebuilding.

As shown in the drawings. the apparatus is preferably built up on a suitable plate or like base 10 p ovided with spaced apertures whereby it may ,be attached to a table or work bench.

A column l2 of U-shaped cross-section is appropriately secured vertically to the base as by welding and is reinforced and braced with extension gussets [3 to enlarge its attachment area to the base. Appropriately welded to the standard is the intermediate horizontal platform l4 and the horizontal top plate overhanging the platform. The plates [4 and I5 are in vertical alignment with the base I!) and serve to adjustably support the aligned lower and upper test and clamping heads ll and [8, respectively, between which heads the valve portion of a gas service regulator is adapted to be positioned and held, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The upper head is suspended from the top plate I5 by means of an adjustable jack screw 2| passing through a bushing 22 mounted in plate l5 and internally threaded to engage with the threads of the jack screw. Any appropriate means at the upper end thereof permits adjustment of thejack screw to regulate thedistance between the lower and upper test heads to accommodate various sizes of and variations in the size of individual gas service regulators. The lower ball end of jack screw 2| is held by collar 23 to the test head to permit universal rocking for alignment purposes.

The lower test head I! is provided with an internal rod-like lower stem 24 which is slidably mounted in a bushing 25 secured in a platform I4. This head is movable between the position shown in Fig. 4 and that shown-in Fig. 2 by means of a toggle system having the links 26, 2! pivoted respectively at 28 to the lower end of stem 24 ofthe lower head and at 29 to the upper end of a stud 30 secured in the base [0. As seen in Fig. 3 the links 26 and 27 are interfitted and arranged between the furcations of the thrust link 3|, the whole being secured together by the pivot 32. When the toggle is straightened to the position of Fig. 2, by the application of power to the thrust link 3|, the test head I7 is at its maximum upper position, but when the toggle is broken as in Fig. 4 the test head as drawn down to rest on the surface of platform 14. The toggle links 2E, 21 may be permitted to be extended slightly beyond a straight line position thereof by adjustment of the stop screw 33 threaded into a socket 34 in the strap 35 secured between the front faces of the base It and the platform M. This will permit the release of pressure on the thrust link 3|, if desired, and yet retain the regulator being worked on in its clamped position.

Movement of thrust link 3| is effected by its attachment by means of pivot 38 to the head on diaphragm rod 37. Thrust is imparted to this rod by backing plate 38 carried by flexible diaphragm 39 such as forms part of a conventional gas pressure regulator. For the sake of convenience the diaphragm housing 40 or" such a regulator has its mounting sleeve 4| reduced in diameter at the inner end to form a shoulder 42 to abut against the rear face of the column l2 while the reduced portion passes through an opening therein and receives the lock nut 43 to secure the diaphragm housing on the test stand. The rod 3! is secured to the backing plate and its remote portion is guided in a bushing 44 in the reduced end of the-sleeve 4|. Rod 3'! is surrounded by a retraction spring 45 expanded between the shoulder 46 in the sleeve and the rear face of the diaphragm reinforcing plate 38.

In order to apply pressure, compressed air or similar fluid is admitted to the upper or outer face of the diaphragm through pipe or flexible tube 41 secured to a fitting 48 attached to the outer diaphragm housing section. The pipe 41 leads to a three-way valve 50 shown mounted on the side of the column of the test stand. In one position it admits pressure fluid from a suitable source to the diaphragm and in the other position shuts off the fluid and vents the diaphragm to atmosphere to permit release of the toggle. Air pressure at approximately twenty pounds per square inch is satisfactory for locking up the toggle because of the relatively large diameter of the diaphragm. The opposite side of the diaphragm is at atmospheric pressure by virtue of vent fitting 49.

The upper and lower test heads are machined from suitable stock each centrally bored as at 5| and counterbored to receive a resilient block 52 between which blocks the ends of the valve housing of the regulator valve to be serviced are clamped. Each block closely fits the bore and counterbore in its head and has considerable resiliency, insuring a gas-tight connection with the abutting end of the regulator valve housing and permitting adequate movement of the toggle for locking it up. They clamp the valve housing rigidly, providing a. vise-like mounting for the regulator in a convenient position for cleaning and rebuilding. They also arrange it for testing by virtue of the eccentric vertical passages 53 in each of the resilient blocks, insuring admission or release of pressure fluid from the mounted valve housing. Each of these passages 53 has a lateral extension 54 connecting to a pipe secured in the side wall of the testing head. The upper pipe 56 is of relatively large diameter and is adapted to handle the low pressure fluid which passes through the regulator. This pipe extends laterally from the test clamp and passes through an elongated vertical slot 51 in the back wall of the stand. The walls of this slot confine the pipe and prevent rotation of test head l8 about the axis of screw 2|. Beyond the standard pipe 56 is fitted with an appropriate coupling for attachment to a flexible hose 58 as shown, which may be attached to a suitable throttling valve. A laterally offset fitting 59 permits a small hose 60 to be attached for connection to a manometer for determining the, outlet pressure of the regulator.

A smaller diameter pipe 62, extending laterally from the lower test head, passes through a corresponding slot 63, in the back wall of the standard, and has a sufficient vertical length to accommodate the range of the head under the operation of the toggle. A hose 64 is shown attached to pipe 62 for bringing in high pressure fluid simulating the pressure of the gas in the mains. The testing equipment, testing valves and the like form no part of the present invention, but it should be noted that an outlet petcock 6B is provided on the lower clamping head to bleed 01f any residual inlet pressure for performing a leakage test.

In operation the three-way valve 60 is first positioned to vent the rear chamber of the diaphragm housing, and since the front chamber is open to atmosphere the spring 45 breaks the toggle and lowers the head 17. The service regulator to be tested is then arranged as shown in Fig. 2 with the high pressure or inlet side of its valve housing at the bottom. The adjusting jack screw 2| is then turned down until the upper head lightly engages the top of the valve housing. Valve 50 is now manipulated to ad- --mit pressure fluid to pipe 41 to extend and straighten the toggle. The amount of movement under the action of the toggle is relatively slight and is largely taken up in making a tight fit between the resilient blocks and the valve housing. The resiliency of these blocks absorbs up any overtravel. The regulator is now rigidly positioned for serving and when this is completed can be tested by appropriate manipulation to supply and release a pressure fluid to pipes 64 and 58 and by reading pressure gauges and manometers in the usual manner. The test completed the regulator is released by movement of valve 50 to vent pressure from behind diaphragm 39 and spring 45 breaks the toggle and lowers test head I1.

I claim:

1. In a repair and test stand of the type described, in combination, a base plate, a column secured to and extending upward from the plate, intermediate and top plates secured to the column parallel to, and in vertical alignment with the base plate, a jack screw depending from the top plate, a test head cup universally mounted on said screw, a second test head cup in vertical alignment with the first and having a rigid stem slidable through the intermediate plate, a resilient filling in each cup extending through the face thereof to make fluid tight engagement with a part to be tested, a fluid passage in each filling, a pipe communicating with each passage and extending laterally from the respective cup, a guide slot in said column for each pipe, and

power actuated means connected to said stem to raise the second. test cup.

2. In a repair and test stand of the type described, in combination, a base plate, a column secured to and extending upward from the plate, intermediate and top plates secured to the column parallel to and in vertical alignment with the base plate, a jack screw depending from the top plate, a test head cup universally mounted on said screw, a second test head cup in vertical alignment with the first and having a rigid stem slidable through the intermediate plate, a resilient filling in each cup extending through the face thereof to make fluid tight engagement with a part to be tested, a fluid passage in each filling, a pipe communicating with each passage and extending laterally from the respective cup, a guide slot in said column for each pipe, a pair of toggle links, means pivoting one link to said stem and one to said base, a thrust rod "pivoted to the intermediate ends of said links and passing through said column, a diaphragm secured to said rod, a housing for said diaphragm supported by said column and a three way valve on said column to control the fiow of fluid under pressure to and from one side of said diaphragm.

3. In a repair and test stand of the type described, in combination, a base plate, a column secured to and extending upward from the plate, intermediate and top plates secured to the column parallel to and vertically above the base plate, a jack screw depending from the top plate, a test head cup universally mounted on said screw, a second test head cup in alignment with the first and having a rigid stem slidable through the intermediate plate, a resilient fillin 6 I in each cup extending through the face thereof to make fluid tight engagement with a part to be tested, a fluid passage in each filling, a pipe communicating with each passage and extending laterally from the respective cup, a guide slot in said column for each pipe, a pair of toggle links, means pivotin one link to said stem and one to said base, a thrust rod pivoted to the intermediate ends of said links and passing through said column, means to apply force to said rod to straighten the toggle, a strap member connecting the base and intermediate plates and an adjustable stop positioned thereon to limit movement of said rod.

4. In a repair and test stand of the type described, in combination, a base plate, a U-shaped column secured to and extending upwardly from the plate, top and intermediate plates secured between the arms of the U, parallel to and in vertical alignment with the base plate, gussets reinforcing the junctions of the base and top plates with the column, a strap connecting the free edge of the intermediate plate to the base plate, a jack screw threaded into said top plate, a test head universally mounted on the lower end of said screw, a stem slidable in the intermediate plate, a test head secured to said stem and confronting the first head in vertical alignment therewith, a toggle connecting said stem to the base plate, a housing and diaphragm supported on the rear face of the column, a thrust rod secured to said diaphragm and passing through the column, means pivoting the free end of the rod to the toggle center and an adjustable stop for said rod end mounted in said strap.

5. In a repair and test stand of the type described, in combination, a base plate, a column secured to and extending upward from the plate, intermediate top plates secured to the column parallel to and in vertical alignment with the base plate, a jack screw depending from the top plate, a test head cup universally mounted on said screw, a second test head cup in vertical alignment with the first and having a rigid stem slidable through the intermediate plate, said second head havin a flat bottom to rest on said intermediate plate, toggle links connecting said stem to said base plate and bent when the head rests on the intermediate plate, power means on said column having a thrust link connected to move the toggle links toward a straightened position and means adjustable to limit the degree of straightening of said links whereby the lift of the second test head cup may be predetermined.

CHARLES D. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 987,609 Bickley Mar. 21, 1911 1,116,118 Putnam Nov. 3, 1914 1,151,007 Goodrich Aug. 24, 1915 1,467,813 Rahm Sept. 11, 1923 1,571,958 Mueller et al. Feb. 9, 1926 2,182,368 Adair Dec. 5, 1939 

